How To Use WhatsApp on your Desktop Browser

How To Use WhatsApp on your Desktop Browser

WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by two former Yahoo employees. In February 2014 it was bought by Facebook for $19bn (£12.6bn).The world's most popular messaging app is now available for your desktop.WhatsApp, which is used by 700 million users to communicate between smartphones and tablets, can now be used on desktop computers - but it still must be linked to the phone app.For the desktop service to work, the paired phone needs an internet connection.Currently only those using the app on Android, Windows and BlackBerry smartphones will be able to use the desktop version - so iPhone users will have to wait.

How To Use WhatsApp on your desktop

1. Open https://web.whatsapp.com/ in Google Chrome as the new service currently works only in the Chrome browser.

2. In Chrome, you will see a QR code that you need to scan with your phone to log in.

3. To scan the code, go to WhatsApp and look for WhatsApp Web. Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry and Nokia S60 users can find "WhatsApp Web" in Menu of WhatsApp, while BlackBerry 10 users need to swipe down from top of the app screen to go to "WhatsApp Web". Tap on it and scan the QR code opened on your computer.

4. WhatsApp connects to your phone to sync messages. WhatsApp for Web is simply an extension of your phone. The Web browser mirrors conversations and messages from your mobile device - this means all of your messages still live on your phone.

5. You can now start a new chat right from your computer. Your phone needs to stay connected to the Internet for WhatsApp to work on your desktop.

WhatsApp for Web also allows users to turn on desktop notifications right from their browser so that even when your browser is minimised you get alerts for any new messages. One possible downside with WhatsApp for Web is that it allows only one Web session at a time.